To recognize quality writing on cinema, Jio MAMI’s 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star announces the Book Award for Excellence in Writing on Cinema. In the second year of the award it is being opened to Hindi writers as well.

The Award seeks entries that showcase nuanced and imaginative film writing and publishing in South Asia. Book-length works written by authors from the sub-continent and published by an Indian publishing house in print format between August 1st, 2015 and August 1st, 2016 are eligible for the Award.

The Award covers works of fiction, graphic novel, creative non-fiction, reportage, analysis , written in English and Hindi. The Award carries a cash prize of Rs. 2.5 lakhs for the winner from each language category. The last date of submission is August 15th, 2016.

Leading Publisher & Editor, Arpita Das (Yoda Press), is curating the Award.  She said, “The Book Award is becoming stronger in its second year and will now also recognize and celebrate excellence in writing on cinema in Hindi. The Award remains steadfast in its intention to encourage a deeper engagement with our cinema via commentary, documentation and analysis.”

Anupama Chopra, Festival Director, Jio MAMI, said, “I’m thrilled to announce that this year’s Jio MAMI Book Award for Excellence in Writing on Cinema is now also open to Hindi writers.  We hope that this award will encourage more writers to look at cinema as a subject.  I’ve written several books on films and I know the struggle it entails.  We hope this award helps to alleviate some of it.”

Last month saw an overwhelming show of support from cinema stars across India for the festivals Call for Entries film campaign, which showcased messages from Anushka Sharma, Pawan Kalyan, Riteish Deshmukh, Prithviraj, Paresh Mokashi, John Abraham and Varun Dhawan.

Jio MAMI’s Mumbai Film Festival with Star will be held in Mumbai from October 20-27th, 2016.